Sunday Morning Dog Walk 23-11-11 Lower Cromane

Another nice Sunday early morning dog walk with Beauty and the camera took us to Lower Cromane and another experiment with camera setting!
Now the Tech stuff:
I used Pentax's TAv mode, this allows you to select a shutter speed and aperture of your choice, and the camera automatically selects the correct ISO. I set 250th & F11, and continuous frame mode My reasons were several fold! to photograph birds in flight, (Fast shutter speed required to stop wing motion blur), and F11 to use the lenses sharpest mode, and also give a reasonable D.O.F. I also selected continuous shooting operation in the hopes that I would get the shot, and continuous focus to enable follow focus. As the morning was overcast, I also selected a cloud white balance, and I noticed that the camera was setting the ISO's around the300-500 mark  for these setting, and the available light. My camera model is not noted for good grain at these ISO settings, but I wanted to see how bad it would be, as such some of the following results are a bit grainy.

This is actually a silhouette, but it was nice to catch one bird on the upbeat, the other on the downbeat!

A bit far away really

Not bad, a little grainy though.

Maybe not fast enough to freeze wings

Reminds me of a wartime invasion.

Such beautiful creatures.

Nice angle on this one!

Spotted these four coming straight at me!

Red leader close up you are out of formation!

Well throttle back then you lot!

Still can't catch you!

He! I said slow down!

Nearly there! a bit more turbo.

Hey! I'm back

Ok wing leader, back in formation!!!

This Heron was too far away, and these birds are so timid

This is what happened when I tried to get closer!

Nice early sunrise at the Point

An early morning fishing trawler, Cromane Bay.

Sky still over exposed, but still effective, I Think?

Flying immediately overhead.

My Beauty, she always has to find a stick!

The Cromane bay toward MacGillycuddy Reeks

A silhouette of Lower Cromane with the Reeks as a backdrop.

The opposite wing beats to the first photo, actually this and the first photo were taken following each other.

All photos Pentax K10d 28-200mm, 250th sec, F11, continuous shooting, Pentax TAv mode 

THE FANTASTIC GOUGANE BARRA 20-11-11

Dave's photos accompanied the South Kerry Camera Club on a photo shoot to the incredibly  beautiful Gougane Barra. For those that have never visited this beautiful location, I can highly recommend it. The little church situated on a small peninsular is a highly sort after location for weddings, where I believe a €500  fee is charged for the use of the church. A hotel, gift shop and local pub make for a perfect place for a romantic weekend getaway. I took over 100 photos, not all good, some didn't make it past the cutting board! but be assured I want to return here again, I will add it to my list of places to take visitors. The following photos are those taken by me on the day, and I hope that they show the beauty of the location.

The church perfectly silhouetted in the still waters. 

The lake from the car park near the church.

Two Bridges at the farthest point of the lake from the church, I took this from some distance away with my 170-500mm

One of the bridges at a full 500mm

Another 500mm shot!

The hotel at Gougane Barra

The souvenir  shop

Club members getting down to some photography, we had 13 turn out.

The Cafe & Bar, Teas with a scone, butter and jam for €4, excellent value.

Tranquility personified!

At the opposite end of the lake from the church, two bridges carry water away down a small waterfall.

With this & the next two photos, I ventured down onto some boggy ground to take them.

.

Wide angle shots with my 18-55mm lens

Wide angle at 18mm

Our trusty professional photographer, Michael Herrrmann, always around to help out, and give advice! Obviously taking a break from us lot to get his own special photo!

The light on the day coupled to the perfectly still air, made for a day of perfect reflections.

If you follow Michael, you should get the pro photos that he gets! he knows the best spots.

500mm from the far end of the lake!

Michael probably discussing technical stuff, more likely just being his friendly self!

Out motley crew, I shot this with my 170-500mm at max zoom. Hi guys! I'm over here...Lol

Michael helping Doreen with some helpful instruction. Doreen told me she now knows how to do two new things with her camera!

The still water acts as a mirror.

Inside the little church, not much room for the congregation. 

This and the next few photos were taken from the grave yard opposite the church

If there is such a thing as a beautiful resting place, then it has to be here!!!

The church through the trees of the graveyard!

All photos Pentax K10d 18-55mm, 28-200mm and 170-500mm

Weather overcast & still, but perfect light and conditions for photographs and reflections!